Brad Marchand, who is set to celebrate his 37th birthday tomorrow, became the oldest player in franchise playoff history with an overtime winner as the “Comeback Cats” lived up to their nickname once again.
* Connor Hellebuyck bounced back from a Game 1 loss by recording his fourth career playoff shutout to help the Jets even their Second Round series.
* Saturday’s two-game slate features the Capitals and Hurricanes shifting to Lenovo Center with a 2-1 series lead on the line as well as the Golden Knights looking to cut their deficit against the Oilers.
MARCHAND HAS OT WINNER AS PANTHERS RALLY to CUT SERIES DEFICIT IN HALF
Brad Marchand scored the winner with 4:33 remaining in overtime as the Panthers overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 to take Game 3 of their Second Round series.
* Marchand (36 years, 363 days) became the oldest player in franchise playoff history with an overtime goal, besting the previous mark set by Mike Hough (33 years, 96 days in Game 5 of 1996 CSF). Marchand scored his fourth career postseason overtime winner, which trails only Patrick Kane, Corey Perry and current teammate Carter Verhaeghe (all w/ 5) for the most among active players.
* Marchand scored his 14th career playoff game-winning goal to pass Evgeni Malkin and Ondrej Palat (both w/ 13) for the most among active players. Marchand has at least one game winner in each of the last nine postseasons dating to 2017 and extended the lengthiest streak in League history – the second longest belong to Glenn Anderson (7 from 1982 to 1988) and Mike Bossy (7 from 1978 to 1984).
* Marchand, who looks to improve to 5-0 in five career playoff series against the Maple Leafs, reached 33 career postseason points versus Toronto and tied Henri Richard for the third most in NHL history. The list is topped by Gordie Howe (53) and Alex Delvecchio (35).
* Florida earned its sixth multi-goal comeback win in franchise playoff history (also Game 4 of 2024 R2, Game 2 of 2023 R2, Game 5 of 2022 R1, Game 3 of 2021 R1 & Game 3 of 2012 CQF). The Panthers can even their series when they play Game 4 during Marchand’s birthday tomorrow (7:30 p.m. ET on TBS, Max, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS).
* WATCH HERE for full highlights from Maple Leafs-Panthers Game 3.
Hellebuyck blanks Dallas as Winnipeg evens Second Round series
Connor Hellebuyck turned aside all 21 shots he faced and Nikolaj Ehlers (2-1—3) had three points to help the Jets even their Second Round matchup in front of another “Winnipeg Whiteout.” The series shifts to American Airlines Center for Game 3 tomorrow (4:30 p.m. ET on TBS, Max, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS).
* Hellebuyck recorded his fourth career playoff shutout to tie Craig Anderson for seventh place on the NHL’s all-time list among U.S.-born goaltenders. Jonathan Quick (10), Mike Richter (9), Tom Barrasso (6), Tim Thomas (6), Ben Bishop (5) and John Vanbiesbrouck (5) round out the top six.
* Ehlers, who returned to the Jets’ lineup during Game 6 of the First Round, became the second Danish player in NHL history with three points in a playoff contest. He joined Lars Eller, who had three en route to winning the Stanley Cup with the 2018 Capitals.
* WATCH HERE for full highlights from Stars-Jets Game 2.
QUICK CLICKS
* Nareg Dekermenjian voted Future Goals Most Valuable Teacher winner
* King Clancy nominee Zach Werenski of Blue Jackets discusses growth of community efforts
* Logan Thompson happy to have number called by Capitals during playoff run
* Oilers hoping depth can extend series lead against Golden Knights in Game 3
* NHL Quarter-Century Team: Players who debuted 2000-10
SECOND ROUND SERIES SHIFT TO CAROLINA, EDMONTON
Second Round series will shift to Carolina and Edmonton on Saturday as the Hurricanes and Capitals both have the chance to take a 2-1 series lead, while the Golden Knights will focus on cutting their series deficit and stymieing the Oilers, who have their sights set on a seventh straight win. Both games will be available in a doubleheader across the U.S. (TNT, MAX, truTV) and in Canada (Sportsnet, TVAS).
* Alex Ovechkin (37 in 75 GP) can match Sidney Crosby (38) for the most playoff road goals by an active player should he find the back of the net. Ovechkin enters Game 2 tied with Mario Lemieux (0.49) for the fourth-highest goals-per-game average on the road in Stanley Cup Playoffs history (min. 50 GP), behind Dino Ciccarelli (0.58), Maurice Richard (0.54) and Brett Hull (0.51).
* Sebastian Aho and the Hurricanes return to Lenovo Center as one of three teams undefeated at home this postseason (3-0, along with EDM & STL), and can win four straight home playoff games for the seventh time overall and second time in four years following their franchise record-setting 7-0 run in 2022. Aho (30-49—79 in 81 GP) can become the first player in Hurricanes/Whalers history to reach the 50-assist and 80-point milestones – benchmarks achieved by only four and five Finnish players in Stanley Cup Playoffs history, respectively.
* Mark Stone will aim to help the Golden Knights erase a 2-0 deficit for the second time in franchise history – after a Game 2 loss in overtime during the 2021 Second Round, Vegas rallied for four straight wins to eliminate Colorado (the only other time they lost the first two games of a series). Stone, who scored the overtime goal in Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead in that 2021 series, will aim to extend his point streak to six games (as will Jack Eichel). Stone’s run includes an active three-game multi-point streak, one from tying the longest in franchise playoff history (4 GP for Chandler Stephenson in 2023 & Max Pacioretty in 2019).
* The Oilers return to Rogers Place where they’ve been led in scoring by two players who factored on their overtime winner in Game 2: Leon Draisaitl (1-5—6 in 3 home GP) and Connor McDavid (1-5—6 in 3 home GP). Edmonton will aim to extend its already historic run of consecutive comeback wins – it can match the longest run in NHL history (regular season or playoffs), benchmarks established by the 1984-85 Kings (7 GP from Nov. 9-21, 1984) and matched later by the 2016-17 Jets (7 GP from March 26 – April 8, 2017). Another comeback win at any point would be the most by the Oilers in one postseason in 34 years and mark the fourth time they have at least seven in one playoff year (8 in 1991, 8 in 1987 & 7 in 1988).
NHL PODCASTS WEEKLY ROUNDUP
* 100% Hockey with Millard & Shannon (May 9): Darren Pang on Round Two: Early Impressions, Hot Goalies, and Series Shaping Moments
* Energy Line with Nate and JSB (May 9): Jason Demers discusses Oilers and Maple Leafs up 2-0, Ducks hiring Quenneville
* NHL Unscripted with Virk and Demers (May 8): Tyler Toffoli loves his young teammates: Maple Leafs surging, Rantanen beasting and the Isles win the lottery
* 100% Hockey with Millard & Shannon (May 7): Coaching in the Stanley Cup Playoffs: Behind the Bench with Mike Keenan
* NHL @TheRink (May 7): Bruce Boudreau joins; Stolarz/Bennett, Oilers finding stride, Canes suffocate Caps
* 100% Hockey with Millard & Shannon (May 6): Joe Micheletti’s Farewell: Stories, Struggles, and a Life in the Game Of Hockey
* NHL Draft Class (May 6): Jason Bukala, Sportsnet scouting analyst; NHL Draft Lottery mock draft
* Never Offside with Julie and Cat (May 6): Megan Rodgers & Jesse Pollack join; Wild & Crazy in Winnipeg
* Energy Line with Nate and JSB (May 6): Rick Bowness discuss coaching the Jets, miracle Game 7 win, Stars matchup
* NHL Fantasy on Ice (May 5): Second Round preview & picks
* NHL Unscripted with Virk and Demers (May 5): Steve Levy is ready for Round 2: Two crazy Game 7s, second-round previews and Clooney on Broadway
* NHL Forček (May 5): FORČEK, 9. díl: Gudasovi o play off NHL
* La Tasse de Café LNH (May 5): Aperçu de la deuxième ronde et bilan des Canadiens
* NHL Schlagschuss (May 5): Episode 23 – Bergmann: „Ich hätte bleiben sollen”
* 100% Hockey with Millard & Shannon (May 5): Second Round Showdown: Bob Stauffer & Gary Lawless on Oilers vs. Golden Knights
